Calling for Nominations of High School Teachers

Seniors are urged to nominate teachers who made big difference in their lives

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Nominations once again are being sought for Northwestern University’s Distinguished Secondary Teacher Award. Graduating members of the 2012 class are urged to nominate outstanding high school teachers who have had a transforming impact on their lives. The deadline for the nominations is Nov. 28.

Each of the four teachers who ultimately receive the honor and each of their high schools will receive an award of $2,500.

The teachers nominated currently should be teaching full time in the classroom. Each graduating student may submit one nomination and should expect to participate in commencement weekend activities, in which teachers and their nominators will be recognized.

The award was given for the first time last year to four outstanding high school teachers. As he did last year, President Morton Schapiro will recognize the winners of the awards and their roles in the lives of the students who nominated them during commencement.

The award committee is chaired by Eugene Lowe, assistant to President Schapiro and a senior lecturer in the department of religious studies, and a student representative, who has not been chosen yet. They will evaluate all nominations. Eight students are on the committee, and additional faculty members and administrators will be added.

The award program was proposed and detailed by Josh Wasserman (McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2011). Last year’s award winners were Theresa Fischer of Ridgefield High School (Ridgefield, Conn.), John Holloran of Oregon Episcopal School (Portland, Ore.), Edwardo Johnson of the University School of Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Georgia Stohr of LaSalle-Peru High School (LaSalle, Ill).